The role of accessibility in mitigating the risk of transport-related social exclusion: Evidence from Fortaleza, Brazil

Abstract

Many Latin American cities are characterized by a scenario of socio-spatial segregation of disadvantaged groups. This segregation prevents them from participating in the social life of their communities due to, notably, reduced or even nonexistent accessibility to opportunities, creating a risk of Transport-Related Social Exclusion (TRSE). Literature is not unanimous regarding the effect of accessibility on the level of individual participation in activities, which may be due to gaps in the formulation of proposed models, limiting their ability to identify causal relationships. Thus, this paper aims to develop a methodological framework to investigate the causal relationship between accessibility and participation in non-mandatory activities from the perspective of TRSE, and to provide empirical evidence of its applicability in the urban context of Fortaleza, Brazil. The main findings of this study highlight the importance of accounting for the effects of time budget constraints on the risk of TRSE among low-income individuals. It emphasized the need to incorporate the moderating role of gender into statistical modeling and to represent conceptually complex constructs through latent variables within the modeling framework. The results contribute to a better understanding of TRSE and provide insights to support the formulation of public policies to mitigate its effects.